Tag: houseplants

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blog Sustainability Sustainable Gardening Basics

Pal Talks November – December 2023

It is that time of the year when you wake up to a slight nip in the air. Your plants are gearing up for the seasonal changes. Growth eases out, leaves change their colour, start falling to increase defence mechanism in fall.

People’s craze for ‘rare’ and ‘exotic’ foreign plants is posing a threat to urban green covers and natural forests, nearly 66% of India’s natural systems are threatened by invasive plant species

3 things to look out in potted plants during this season

1. Water

Do not overwater your plants as temperature is cooler now. Check topsoil before watering.

2. Fungus & pests

Dryness, excess water may increase fungus, spider mites, other leaf sucking pests.

3. Brightness

Shift plants in a warm, brighter spot or keep room lights on, especially during evenings.

Plant of the Month

Hydrangea. A winter flower, hydrangeas come in different colours and sizes. For hedges or pots, this flower is a bouquet in itself.

DIY Fungicide

Make this easy decoction to fight fungal infections in plants. Mix and apply turmeric & cinnamon powders in equal parts and apply on topsoil.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Myths v/s Facts: Mess v/s Method

Myth

Potted plants stain the exterior walls of buildings. They’re not meant to keep in the windows or grills.

In urban cities, especially Mumbai, several housing societies have banned houseplants.

Residents are discouraged to keep potted plants in the exterior fittings of the buildings such as window grills or panes, a/c ducts and sometimes even balconies.

The primary reason behind such intentions are to avoid mud marks as well as reduce weight on the exterior walls of buildings.

Fact

Potted plants without plates underneath and overwatering are the main reasons for causing stains on walls.

While placing plants on windows, balconies or terraces, one must always invest in plates or trays to collect the excess water. During summers, this excess water can also help birds to quench their thirst. However, we recommend to keep the trays clean periodically of this water to avoid breeding of any insects or pests.

Second, avoid flood irrigation or pouring large amounts of water in one go. It will not only save you from creating those ugly stains but will also from eroding nutrients from the soil.

Keeping these two factors in mind, one can create a green window without affecting the beauty and integrity of building walls.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

FAQ: How to create a sustainable garden?

Such balanced, consistent, and self-sustained ecosystems require minimal or no intervention, resulting into ecological conservation at a macro level.

At an individual level, choosing eco-friendly materials, native plants, optimising time and resources to create your home garden, makes it sustainable.

Such methods encourage natural ways of –

Growing

(with no frills attached)

Fertilization

(where the kitchen is the gold mine)

Pest control

(when the job can be done gently)

Watering

(when less is more)

Creating a sustainable garden at home requires a holistic approach towards incorporating natural ecosystems at a smaller scale. From the choice of planter materials to the type of plants and maintenance of gardens, one can create a self-sustaining microcosm within the confines of one’s home.
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blog Native Plants of India

3 native plants to style corners

Want to create an Instagramable living room? Try integrating a few tall, statement plants in the corners of your homes.

Plants can brighten up any space, if placed in the right setting. Be it bonsais that make an extraordinary addition to one’s house or simple palms, plants have the potential of making any corner lively.

While doing so, choose low-maintenance and hardy plants so that they can survive in indirect light.

Here are a few native plants that can help you achieve a stylish and sustainable corner.

Palms

There’s a lot of variety in palms that you could choose from. However, the ultimate favourite of all time remains Areca Palm, Raphis Palm, etc.

Ficus

Comes in different sizes, shapes, colours. Weeping Fig, one of the most popular houseplants, is making a serious comeback in our homes.

Schefflera

It is one of the most under-rated plants. It can really brighten up your corners with its interesting umbrella shaped leaf pattern and strong stem structure.

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blog Native Plants of India

3 native plants for styling living rooms

Who doesn’t like large, life-sized plants touching their roof? Plants have become central to home decor and tall plants help make a style statement.

However, the choice of plants can make or break this feeling. While exotic plants look beautiful, they’re often require high maintenance. Fragile root systems, watering issues and pest attacks are more rampant in exotic plants than native varieties.

Native varieties on the other hand, not only help your spaces look evergreen but also reduce maintenance stress for you. Additionally, such plants are versatile and can survive in almost any light condition, indoor or outdoor.

For instance, rubber plants, palms, ficus can thrive inside your house in indirect light and can also do well in your balcony in full sunlight. They adjust to their surroundings way faster than the exotic species.

Here are a few native plants that are low maintenance and can help you make a statement.

Areca Palms

It is the ultimate versatile and low-maintenance plant for living rooms. Keep it anywhere from direct sunlight to indirect bright light, and it shall thrive.

Ficus

Weeping Fig one of the most popular houseplants is making a serious comeback in our homes. Use it as a bonsai or tall, bushy plant.

Rubber Plant

Comes in several sizes, shapes as well as colours. However, the elastica variety is one of the most spectacular and hardy ones among all.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Myths v/s Facts: Bigger the better

Myth:

Size of pots determine plant growth.

Can we create a garden which is aesthetic and low on maintenance at the same time? Yes, of course. Replacing exotic plants with native / indigenous and hardy varieties can not only increase your garden’We often, think that our plants need more space than they have currently. Larger and bigger the pots, proportionate will be the plant’s growth.

Especially, potted houseplants need more space to grow. This may not be necessarily and entirely true.s lifespan but also reduce maintenance costs to a considerable extent. Native plants are well-adapted for our local climate. This means, they’re more resistant to pests – hence, reducing the use of pesticides. They contribute more towards soil nutrition – hence, reducing the use of fertilizers. They’re hardy in nature – hence, they tend to survive better in harsher weather conditions – hence, reducing the replantation efforts.

Fact:

It is important to choose the right size and kind of planters depending on the plants you have.

Every plant has a different root system. Some grow deep, some remain shallow.

When smaller plants are given extra large planters, they may in fact not survive owing to dispersal of water in the soil. Hence, understanding the space requirement for plants is very crucial for their healthy development.

One easy tip to check if your plants need more space – tilt your pot and check underneath for any roots coming out of the hole. If yes, then your plant is wanting to be repotted in a slightly larger planter. If no, then it is okay with its current home!

For instance, Orchids like airy planters while palms can remain pot bound for a very long time. For shallow rooted plants such as houseplants or indoor plants small sized and wide shaped planters would do just fine.

However, for deep rooted and fast growing plants such as flowers, edibles, etc you must invest in deep or tall height planters.

So before, you start repotting your houseplants, look at the signs and choose the planters wisely.

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blog Native Plants of India Sustainable Gardening Basics

5 native flowers to bring home this winter

Winters in Mumbai may not be as harsh as the northern cities. However, they could be the same for plants. The cold weather brings its own set of challenges for plants. With pest attacks such as the powdery mildew, mealy bugs, white flies, etc, plants are more prone to diseases and decay in winters than any other season.

Hence, while adding plants to your garden, choose a mix of both evergreen and seasonal flowers. This way you can keep your garden colourful and lively at all times.

When it comes to perennial flowering plants, you can opt for Orchids, Kaner, Ixora, Roses. On the other hand, winter blooming flowers such as Sevanti or Chrysanthemums, Kalanchoe, Begonia, Hydrangeas can add vigour to your garden.

These native flowers are not just hardy in nature but beautiful in blooms and foliage. So go on and bring them home now!
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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Microblog Series: 3 daily routines for you and your plants

There are several similarities between us and plants. Our basic necessities are theirs too. In order to understand what plants need, a gardener must think about his or her own daily wants, such as Hydration, Fresh Air and Health Check-ups.

Hydration

Our water or liquids intake differ from season to season. In summer we feel more thirsty as compared to winters. Same is with plants. To understand how much water they need, look at their leaves. If they’re upright, they’re fine. If they’re drooping downwards, they’re thirsty.

Fresh Air

We all are oxygen loving creatures. A daily dose of fresh air is all we need to keep our lungs healthy. While plants can survive in closed, non-ventilated spaces, they might not thrive. Keeping them in open air or breeze can keep pests at bay, ensuring their good health.

Health Check-Ups

Prevention is better than cure – applies to plants as well. Diagnosing problems at the right time can give them a new lease of life. Whether it is a pest attack or lack of nutrients in soil, such problems when detected in early stages can help the spread and long-lasting effects.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Myth v/s fact: Maintenance v/s sustenance

One of the most common questions or concerns while creating a garden is centered around its maintenance. For new gardeners or beginners, this alone becomes the single, most important decision-making factor.

So let’s help our friends who are thinking of starting a garden.

Myth: Creating a garden means a lot of maintenance.

Gardens especially indoor gardens require more time, resources, attention and care. We need to install modern technologies such as humidifiers, mystifiers, air conditioners, for the plants to survive.

Fact: The kind of plants one chooses decides its maintenance.

Native or indigenous plants generally doesn’t require as much care, support and interventions as much as exotic or foreign origin plants do. They can sustain themselves easily if the garden is built using the right principles.

Native plants by default become low-maintenance as they’re well versed with the climatic conditions, weather and environment around them. They have spent centuries learning and adapting to it. These plants deploy their natural, in-built defence mechanism against unpredicted weather changes, pest attacks, or any kind of external influence.

Having said that, plants are like human beings. While they need food, nutrition, air, water among other things, they also need a gardener’s love, care and attention in order to thrive and become fully self-sustainable.

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blog Client Project Sustainable Gardening Basics

5 native alternatives to popular houseplants

In our earlier post, we talked about the top five exotic houseplants. But what do we use in their place?


Here’s a list of native or indigenous plant that can serve as alternatives to exotic plants in your garden. Such plants are not just similar in terms of size, shape, colours, formation but are pro local environment.

Start by adopting these hardy, low-maintenance indoor plants that can serve as great alternatives to exotic plants.

While creating a new garden or adding plants to your existing one, choose plants wisely. Building a home garden with native varieties has several benefits – for you and our environment.